The Maryland men's and women's track teams will open the outdoor season this weekend
at the Alabama Relays at the Sam Bailey Track Facility in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Both teams are coming off a solid indoor season that featured many strong
individual and team performances. The women's team finished sixth at the ACC
Indoor Championships, and the men's team placed ninth.

Following the Alabama Relays, the Terps will host consecutive home meets, the
Maryland Invitational and the Terrapin Invitational. The ACC Outdoor Championships
will be held the following weekend, April 20-21, followed by the Penn Relays from
April 26-28. The NCAA Championships will be held May 30-June 2 in Eugene, Ore.

The women's team will be led by senior Vanessa Jones (Olney, Md.), conference
champion in the high jump last year. Also, junior Ruth Kura (North Potomac, Md.)
will hope to follow a dominant indoor season with a similar outdoor season. Kura
broke the school record in the weight throw on three separate occasions during
the indoor season.

On the men's side, senior long jumper Cedrick Rogers (Fort Wayne, Ind.) figures
to lead the Terps. In addition, junior hurdlers Dontae Bugg and Phillip Barrett
should have successful outdoor seasons.

Competition at the Alabama Relays begins Thursday with the decathlon and heptathlon.
It continues Friday with the second portion of those events, as well as the men's and
women's 10,000 meters. All other events will be held Saturday and Sunday.